St. Augustine, Fla. (July 24, 2007) – World Golf Hall of Fame, with the support of PING, LPGA and the Ladies European Tour, will open an exhibit that tells the story of women’s professional golf’s most prestigious team competition, The Solheim Cup. The exhibit titled "Pride, Passion, Patriotism: A Celebration of The Solheim Cup" will open at the Hall of Fame on Friday, Aug. 17, preceding the 2007 Solheim Cup, set for Sept. 14-16 at Sweden’s Halmstad Golf Club in Halmstad, Sweden.
"The Solheim family and all the PING team are thrilled with the exhibit honoring The Solheim Cup and the competitors that have made the event the success that it is," said John A. Solheim, Chairman and CEO of PING, Inc. "To have the World Golf Hall of Fame recognize this great competition, that is really very young, is something very special."
The exhibit will feature many stories as told by Solheim Cup captains and participants themselves, as well as personal memorabilia to support those stories. On display from the Solheim family will be one of three original Solheim Cup trophies. Photos, video and additional memorabilia will be included in the display through a variety of sources, including Hall of Fame members, the LPGA, Ladies European Tour and PING.
"An exhibit on The Solheim Cup is a great opportunity for the Hall of Fame to share stories that tell of the excitement in women’s golf today," said Jack Peter, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Hall of Fame. "We appreciate the involvement of Hall of Fame members and other Solheim Cup participants in developing this exhibit that is sure to showcase the emotional, passion-filled and patriotic event."
With the commitment and vision of Hall of Fame member Karsten Solheim and his company, PING, a new tradition in women’s professional golf began in 1990 with the creation of The Solheim Cup. The exhibit will feature an overview of the event and its early development, as well as stories of memorable moments from those who have been a part of this spirited competition since the beginning.
"Pride, Passion, Patriotism: A Celebration of The Solheim Cup" also will look at the fans who have poured their hearts out through face- painting, serenading and chanting as they’ve rooted on their country. And, since the inaugural event, the U.S. and European team captains have risen to the challenge of shepherding their players through this emotionally-driven team competition. The exhibition will recognize the numerous attributes the past captains have had— many whom are Hall of Fame members—as well as reveal some of their unique and personal tactics they have used to build a cohesive team.
"Pride, Passion, Patriotism: A Celebration of The Solheim Cup" will be the next special exhibit on display at the Hall of Fame, which currently is featuring "Gary Player: A Global Journey" into September 2007. Also, opening on November 12, 2007 will be the "Jack Nicklaus:
Golf’s Golden Bear."
For more information about the World Golf Hall of Fame, visit www.wgv.com.
About the World Golf Hall of Fame
World Golf Hall of Fame, located in St. Augustine, Fla., is the ultimate destination for the celebration and recognition of golf’s greatest players and contributors and an inspiration to golfers and fans throughout the world. A collaboration of 26 national and international golf organizations support the Hall of Fame, including the PGA TOUR, LPGA, USGA, PGA of America and The R&A. The museum houses interactive exhibits and historic and personal artifacts that tell the stories of its members and the game of golf. Adjacent is the World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX® Theater. For more information, visit www.wgv.com.
Contact:
Jane Fader
904-940-4009
jfader@wghof.org
